NYS Music is proud to launch Empire State Music Podcast bringing our audience the best of bands from across New York State. With host Andy Hogan, the podcast can be found on Soundcloud and will bring the best up and coming musicians from around the state, established acts and the local voices that tie together the various music scenes from around the state. Hogan, a Buffalo resident, will host the podcast, his second after What Was I Saying? and one that Hogan sees great potential for.
“If nothing else, I hope this podcast contributes to the never ending effort of continuing to unify the music scene throughout NYS. There are so many incredible local acts throughout the state that are made up of some really cool cats who, in my opinion, deserve a platform to be able to really express themselves; what makes them tick, and where their creativity comes from. In order to do so, I want to get to the roots of these bands and musicians; not only how they get to where they are, but how they fit in to the grand design of music history in America, and where they are headed down the line.”
While a student at SUNY Geneseo, Andy hosted a weekly radio show which eventually became What Was I Saying?, which he co-hosted with Paris Peters. The podcast took a back seat while Andy joined Ponder (formerly Ponder the Giraffe), but has since been reborn with a new focus on the bands and artists from across New York State, as Empire State Music Podcast. Listen to episode 1 with Tough Old Bird, a folk band out of Western New York.
Tough Old Bird are venturing from their home in the Allegheny region and taking to the road this month and next. The Northeast run began on March 15 at The Bug Jar. Local support for this show came from indie folk duo Bitter Bells and alt-country outfit Brindamor.
Tough Old Bird
Bitter Bells is Ben Proctor and Rita Harris Proctor, who are better known for their work with the band The Crooked North. Songwriter Ben Proctor alternated between guitar and banjo, and they both sang. Their beautifully harmonized vocals resonated as they performed a selection of sad songs, followed by even sadder songs, with themes about loss, like unrequited love, tragedy, and being far from home. The mood was lightened by their playful banter, and a running jest about refraining from banjo jokes.
Bitter Bells
Tough Old Bird took the stage next. Hailing from Fillmore, New York, songwriting brothers Matthew and Nathan Corrigan were joined on stage by Jay Corwin on upright bass. From the first strum on the banjo, the music seemed to transport the listener through time and space, and everything from the psychedelic decor on the walls to the digital camera in my hand seemed oddly out of place.
Tough Old Bird
Their music taps into the time-honed tradition of roots music, plucking at the heartstrings and reviving forgotten innate rhythms. The intriguing story lines in the lyrics carry listeners on a journey through the instrumental landscape. In addition to a selection of songs they’ve written over the past five years, their set included a stunning rendition of Tom Wait’s “Cold Cold Ground.”
Tough Old Bird
This was the first of many dates they have lined up over the next several weeks, as they trek along the Eastern Seaboard and venture into the Midwest. I picked up a copy of their latest CD, Where The Great Beasts Are Buried at the show, but their music can also be bought online.
Brindamor closed out the night. They brought copies of their brand new CD released that day, and handed out copies throughout the night. The songs on the EP are titled “About You” and “Betsy, Before I Forget,” and they were recorded nearby at 1809 Studios with Dave Drago. That was all I knew about them before the quartet took the stage. Even though we were heading into late hours on a weeknight, I was intrigued and I stuck around a bit later than planned. I’m glad I did. Brindamor’s sound is grand and seems larger than the sum of its four members. The music straddles the lines of indie folk and contemporary alt-country, giving it broad appeal.
Brindamor
Tough Old Bird’s Upcoming Show Dates:
MAR 18 – Bourbon & Branch w/ Deep City Healers – Philadelphia, PA
MAR 19 – PIANOS – New York, NY
MAR 20 – The Bebop w/ Aaron Wardwell Lindsey Sampson – Boston, MA
MAR 31 – Hot Mama’s Canteen – Buffalo, NY
APR 6 – Postcrypt Coffeehouse – Manhattan, NY
APR 7 – Cafe Veritas – Rochester, NY
APR 14 – The Geneseo Riviera w/ Straw Hat – Geneseo, NY
APR 18 – Hotel Crittenden – Coudersport, PA
APR 19 – The Funhouse At Mr. Smalls – Millvale, PA
The latest episode of Rochester Indie Musician Spotlight features Tough Old Bird. On the show, brothers Matthew and Nathan Corrigan talk about their songwriting process and performing together with the host Dan Gross. They also discuss the renaissance of folk music in the region, and the consistent presence of the genre despite going in and out of popularity with audiences. Tough Old Bird is on tour this month, with shows spanning from Buffalo to Boston. Following the interview, they perform a selection of songs from their catalog, including “Built It Again” and “No One Knows Your Mind.”
The live events are free and open to the public, and are recorded at Bop Shop Records at 1460 Monroe Avenue in Rochester from 7-9pm. Upcoming Spotlight sessions include Vanishing Sun on March 9, Grand Canyon Rescue Episode on March 10, Seth Faergolzia’s Multibird on March 16, and Jimmy Highsmith Jr. on March 31. The remaining four guests for Season 5 will be announced soon.
For more about the Rochester Indie Musician Spotlight, read the